Transparent panel unit



LEIBE Juhe 30, 1931.

TRANSPARENT MKNEL UNIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May INVENTOR. (120179 [mi/1e, BY M June 30, 1931. G, LEIBE TRANSPARENT .PANEL UNIT Filed May 9, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Patented June 30, 1931 GEORGE LEIBE, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA TRANSPARENT PANEL UNIT Application filed May 9,

This invention relates to a transparent unit for mounting within an opening formed in the door, front, sides and top of a refrigerator, display case, cabinets and receptacles to enable the readily viewing from the outside the article or articles displayed or stored within the refrigerator, cabinet-or receptacle and hasfor its object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a transparent unit including spaced, opposed, rigid, transparent panels free of direct connection to" the body of the refrigerator, case, cabinet or receptacle and arranged in a manner to eliminate condensation between said panels, under 1 such conditions permitting of the article or articles being visible at all times from the outside of the refrigerator, case, cabinet or receptacle.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth,

a removable transparent unit for the purpose referred to and with the unit including a plurality of spaced, opposed, transparent panels and with the unit so constructed and arranged that in case of breakage of one or more of the transparent panels it can be removed and shipped to the nearest factory for re air without the necessity of shipping the re rigerator, display case, cabinet or receptacle or the wall or door in which is arranged the unit.

Further objects of the invention are to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a removable transparent unit for the purpose referred to and which issimple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, throughly efficient in its use and conveniently installed within an opening, readily assembled, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more specifically described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein it is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which fall within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

1929. "Serial No. 361,779.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a door or one of the Walls of a refrigerator or receptacle showing the adaptation in connection with said door or wall a removable transparent unit in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2of Figure 1. t

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the removable transparent unit in accordance with this invention.

Figure 4 is a section on line H of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view partly in elevation and section of a removable transparent unit in accordance with this invention.

The contour of the unit can be as desired and is shown by Way of example as of rectangular form. The unit is to conform in contour to the shape of the opening formed in the door or body in which the panel is employed for closing such opening and to permit of one viewing the contents of the refrigerator or receptacle of which the door or wall forms a part thereof. It is to be understood that a removable transparent panel unit in accordance with this invention can be mounted in the top, side, front and rear of a receptacle or refrigerator or arranged in a refrigerator or display case door. The transparent panel unit includes a plurality of spaced, opposed panel members which are transparent and preferably the number of transparent members will be 3, but this number can be increased or diminished as desired. The removable transparent unit for closing the opening formed in the wall or door or top of a refrigerator or display case is held in place by means of molding and which permits of readily removing the unit when desired, as the molding can be disconnected and the unit removed from the opening in which it is positioned. As the unit is removable it can be repaired when damaged and therefore it is not necessary to ship the refrigerator or display case or the door or the wall of such when it is desired to repair the unit when one of its transparent members becomes damaged or broken.

The reference character 1 indicates by way of example a wall, top or door of arefrigerator or display case, and will be hereinafter referred to as a door, and the latter is provided with an openin 3 of rectangular contourl Secured to the wal 4 of the opening 3 in close proximity to the front 4 of the door 1 is a molding 5 in the form of a rectangular frame and secured to the wall 3 of the opening 2 and flush with the'rear face of the door 1 is a molding 6 in the form of a rectangular frame. The rear face of the door 1 is indicated at 7 The moldings 5 and 6 are removably secured to the wall 3 of the opening 2.

A transparent panel unit, in accordance with this invention is generally indicated at 8 and is employed for closing the opening 2. The unit 8 is removably connected to the door 1 by the moldings 5, 6. If either molding 5 or 6 is detached from the door 1, the unit 8 can be readily removed from the opening 3. Preferably however it will be the inner molding 6 which is detached from door 1 when it is desired to remove unit 8 for any purpose.

The unit 8 includes a plurality of rectangular frames, as shown by way of example two in number and which are indicated at 9, 10. The frames 9, 10 are of like size and the outer and inner faces thereof are flush with each other when the frames are employed in connection with the unit. The frames 9, 10 are arranged in opposed spaced relation and are interposed between the transparent panels 11, 12 and 13 as well as being spaced therefrom by pads 14, 15, 16 and 17 formed of cushioning material preferably resilient, with each of the pads of rectangular skeleton form to correspond in size to the size of either of the frames.

The trans arent panel 11 is flush with the outer face 0 the frame 9 and the outer edge of the pad 14, and the latter is interposed between frame 9 and the inner face of panel 11. The transparent panel 12 is flush with the outer faces of the frames 9, 10 and also with the outer edges of the pads 14, 15. The pad 15 is interposed between the panel 12 and the frame 9 and the pad 16 is interposed between the panel 12 and the frame 10. The panel 13 has its edges flush with the outer face of the frame 10 and with the outer edge of the pad 17 and the latter is interposed be throughout the sides and ends of the frames,

pads and panels and extends upon the marginal portion throughout of the outer face of panel 11 and the marginal portion throughout of the outer face of the panel 13. Secured to the outer face of the sealing medium 20 is a flexible tape 21 which constitutes a binder for securing the frames, pads and panels together. The tape 21 is of the adhesive type and is extended upon the angular portions 22, 23 of the sealing medium 20.

- Disposed throughout the binder 21 and the angular portions 22, 23 of the sealing medium and also extending upon the outer face of the panels 11, 13 at the marginal portions thereof is the coating 24 which also tends to act as a sealing medium and preferably is formed from wax but it can be of any suitable material. The tape 21, although func-- tioning principally as a binder yet it further acts to assist in sealing the chambers 18, 19. The sealing medium 20 as well as the coating 24 also tends to act as a binding means between the elements of the unit.

The unit is set up in the manner as referred to to prevent the condensation of the panels and further enable one to View at all times the contents of the refrigerator or case which the door or Wall 1 forms an element thereof, and therefore it is thought that the many advantages of a removable transparent unit, in accordance with this invention for the purpose set forth can be readily understood, and although the preferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described, yet it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction can be had which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim is 1. A removable transparent panel unit for closing an opening in a door or Wall for the purpose set forth comprising a pair of moisture freed superposed frames, the members of each frame being rigid and solid throughout, a series of superposed moisture freed skeleton pads of cushioning material and corresponding in contour to that of the frame, one outer pad being positioned against the outer face of one frame, the other outer pad being positioned against the outer face of the other frame and the inner pads positioned against the inner faces of said frames, said pads flush with the inner and outer edges of the frames, an inner and a pair of outer moisture freed transparent panels, the outer' panels being positioned a ainst the outer pads and the inner panel eing positioned between the inner pads, said panels having their edges flush with the outer edges of said pads and frames, said frames, pads and panels providing superposed chambers, a sealing element for said chamber secured to the edges of the panels, the outer edges of the frames and pads and upon the marginal portions of the outer faces of the outer pan els, and a binder element for the panels, pads and frames secured to said sealing element.

2. A removable transparent panel unit for closing an opening in a door or wall for the purpose set forth comprising a pair of moisture freed superposed frames, the members of each frame being rigid and solid throughout, a series of superposed moisture freed skeleton pads of cushioning material and corresponding in contour to that of the frame, one outer pad being positioned against the outer face of one frame, the other outer pad being positioned against the outer face of the other frame and the inner pads positioned against the inner faces of said frames, said pads flush with the inner and outer edges of the frames, an inner and a pair of outer moisture freed transparent panels, the outer panels being positioned against the outer pads and the inner panel being positioned between the inner pads, said panels having their edges flush with the outer edges of said pads and frames, said frames, pads and panels providing superposed chambers, a sealing element for said chamber secured to the edges of the panels, the outer edges of the frames and pads and upon the marginal portions of the outer faces of the outer panels, a binder element for the panels, pads and frames secured to said sealing element, and an impervious coating for concealing said element and binder.

3. A removable transparent panel unit for closing an opening in a door or wall for the purpose set forth comprising moisture freed inner and outer edgewise aligning frames having the frame members thereof solid and rigid throughout, moisture freed skeleton cushioning pads positioned against the inner and outer faces and aligning with the inner and outer edges of said frames, moisture freed transparent panels interposed between the inner of the pads and arranged against the outer of the pads, the edges of said panels aligning with the outer edges of the frames and pads, said panels, frames and pads providing closed air tight chambers, a sealing element for said chambers secured to the edges of the panels, the outer edges of the frames and pads and upon the marginal portions of the outer faces of the outer panels, a binder element for the panels, pads and frames secured to the sealing element, and an impervious coating for concealing said element and binder.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature hereto.

GEORGE LEIBE. 

